Billins A Lowe's Senior CLASS Award Finalist

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University's Chad Billins (Marysville) has been selected as a finalist for the 2011-12 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for men's ice hockey in an announcement made on Wednesday (Feb. 1).

Billins, a senior defenseman, currently serves as a Bulldog men's ice hockey team co-captain. He currently leads team defensemen in scoring with 19 points coming from four goals and 15 assists in 28 contests played. Billins has blocked 37 shots thus far this season.

In his career, Billins has played in 134 contests for the Bulldogs where he has racked up 43 assists, five power-play tallies, one short-handed goal and two game-winners for a 57-point total.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as a NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom, character, community and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in SchoolTM, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 20 candidates who were announced in October.

These 10 names will be placed on the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award hockey ballot for a nationwide vote beginning today and concluding March 18. Fan balloting is available on the award's official Web site, http://www.seniorCLASSaward.com, as well as through their Facebook Fan Page.

The votes will be combined with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award. Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the Senior CLASS Award winner this April at the 2012 NCAA Men's Frozen Four® in Tampa, Fla.

Billins has played a pivotal role this season in helping Ferris State to a current 17-8-3 overall record, which includes a third-place 11-6-3-(1) Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) mark. FSU is presently ranked sixth and 10th in two national collegiate hockey polls this week.